“I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO COPE”: AMANDA OWEN REVEALS WHY SHE NEEDED TO RESET HER LIFE

Television star and shepherdess Amanda Owen has become one of Britain’s most recognisable rural figures, known to millions through her hit Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm and, more recently, Channel 4’s Our Farm Next Door. But despite her calm confidence on screen, the 49-year-old mother-of-nine has admitted that life in the public eye hasn’t always come easily.

Speaking candidly on Good Housekeeping’s podcast My Life in a Biscuit Tin, Owen opened up about the pressures that come with fame, motherhood, and being a woman working in the media — revealing that she recently had to “reset” her life to regain her balance.

FINDING STRENGTH IN SIMPLICITY

For years, viewers have watched Amanda and her family navigate life on Ravenseat Farm, set in the remote Yorkshire Dales. The show became a national favourite, offering a glimpse into their rugged yet wholesome world — from lambing season to family dinners around the farmhouse table.

Yet behind the bucolic charm, Owen confessed that constant public attention has often been overwhelming.

“Doing what we do, with being in the media and all that, it’s a great conversation starter!” she said with a laugh on the podcast.

“The kids will go, ‘Do you know what they’ve written about you, Mum?’ And I’ll say, ‘No, what now?’ They’ll tell me, ‘You’ve ridden a horse in a bikini.’ And I’ll say, ‘Yes, I did, I put it online, and I’m proud. I’m definitely not bothered that somebody said I looked like a cadaver.’”

Her frank response drew laughter from listeners — but it also highlighted her growing resilience in the face of public scrutiny.

A LIFE UNDER THE LENS

Since Our Yorkshire Farm first aired in 2018, Owen has been praised for her authenticity and down-to-earth nature. Her willingness to open her life to viewers made her an unlikely TV star — a modern-day farmer balancing motherhood, marriage, and media fame.

But fame, she admits, is a double-edged sword. The intrusion of social media commentary, tabloid headlines, and public opinion has often taken its toll.

“It’s strange,” she reflected. “When you open your life up, people think they know every part of it. Sometimes, that can be lovely — people send messages of kindness. But other times, it’s cruel, and that can wear you down.”

That sense of exhaustion, she said, ultimately forced her to take a step back. The decision to “reset,” as she describes it, came after years of constant filming, long working days on the farm, and the emotional strain of keeping her family’s private life intact under a public microscope.

THE POWER OF RESETTING

For Owen, “resetting” wasn’t about escaping fame, but about reclaiming peace.

“I didn’t know how to cope for a while,” she admitted. “You get caught up in everything — work, cameras, deadlines, people’s opinions. One day you realise you’ve stopped living your own life and started living the one other people expect of you. That’s when I decided to reset.”

Her words struck a chord with listeners who have watched her juggle a demanding schedule while raising nine children. Many took to social media to praise her honesty and her determination to speak openly about the realities of modern life in the spotlight.

STAYING GROUNDED

Despite the challenges, Owen remains deeply connected to her farming roots. Her resilience, she says, comes from the land and her family.

“When everything feels too much, I walk out into the fields,” she explained. “You can’t fake things when you’re with the animals or working in the elements. The farm doesn’t care if you’ve been on TV or not — it just reminds you who you are.”

In Our Farm Next Door, viewers see Owen rebuilding and rebalancing her life as she works on a new property close to Ravenseat. The show reflects a more introspective Amanda — one determined to focus on what truly matters.

“It’s about moving forward,” she said. “The farm has always been a symbol of hard work and hope. Now it’s also about healing.”

A ROLE MODEL IN REALITY

Amanda Owen’s honesty has earned her admiration across Britain. While her life has been anything but conventional, her openness about vulnerability, criticism, and personal growth has resonated far beyond the Yorkshire hills.

Good Housekeeping’s editor praised her interview as one of the podcast’s most authentic moments, noting how it showed “a woman who refuses to be defined by other people’s opinions.”

As Owen put it herself:

“I’ve learned to laugh at the madness. You can’t let it consume you. Life’s too short — and there are sheep to feed.”

LOOKING AHEAD

As Our Farm Next Door continues to air, Owen’s focus remains firmly on her children, her animals, and the landscape that made her famous. For viewers, her “reset” isn’t a retreat — it’s a reminder that strength often means knowing when to pause.

In a world where fame and image often overshadow authenticity, Amanda Owen’s story stands as proof that even in the glare of the cameras, it’s possible to find yourself again — one honest conversation at a time.